311 research outputs found
MODELING AND SIMULATION OF A LEAN SYSTEM. CASE STUDY OF A PAINT LINE IN A FURNITURE COMPANY
Since they were first developed, lean methodologies have grown in importance and scope and have been applied in both manufacturing and service. However, determining how to transform a common manufacturing company into a lean one, as well as how to evaluate the future company, are challenges for both researchers and manufacturers. This paper presents a case study of a lean manufacturing implementation for the paint line system in a furniture company. A systematic method for execution is shown. In addition, a simulation model is constructed to evaluate the new system in comparison with the MRP system. The new system promises much improvement in terms of a resource’s utility and the system’s productivity.Lean Techniques, Simulation Model, Paint Line, Furniture Company.
Evolutionary tracks for Betelgeuse
We have constructed a series of non-rotating quasi-hydrostatic evolutionary
models for the M2 Iab supergiant Betelgeuse (). Our models are
constrained by multiple observed values for the temperature, luminosity,
surface composition and mass loss for this star, along with the parallax
distance and high resolution imagery that determines its radius. We have then
applied our best-fit models to analyze the observed variations in surface
luminosity and the size of detected surface bright spots as the result of
up-flowing convective material from regions of high temperature in the surface
convective zone. We also attempt to explain the intermittently observed
periodic variability in a simple radial linear adiabatic pulsation model. Based
upon the best fit to all observed data, we suggest a best progenitor mass
estimate of and a current age from the start of the
zero-age main sequence of Myr based upon the observed ejected mass
while on the giant branch.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figures, Revised per referee suggestions, Accepted for
publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Building a Conceptual Framework for Using Big Data Analytics in the Banking Sector
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Big Data and Big Data Analytics (BDA) are becoming trending technologies of the
future. This topic has garnered considerable interest from researchers and businesses. However, BDA
research in the banking sector has proven to be extremely limited and mixed. Addressing the challenges of BDA application and laying the foundation for BDA to improve banking efficiency raises
significant questions about strategic management in the banking sector. Through a systematic review
of the literature and a case study in Hungarian banks, this study intends to address the major inconsistencies in existing ideas about BDA applications. This study also proposes a conceptual model
to evaluate the impact of factors influencing the use of BDA in the banking sector and investigates
whether BDA affects the performance of banks. Our study finds that the use of BDA in the banking
sector has to be aligned with the creation of dynamic capabilities that positively and directly affect
banking in terms of the market and operational performance. Meanwhile, the dynamic capabilities created by BDA usage have a moderating impact on bank performance through improved risk
management performance. Furthermore, this research helps managers focus on key factors, namely
technological infrastructures, Big Data skills, data quality, and top management support, to boost
the efficiency of using BDA
Sex discrimination based on morphological traits in Mystus mysticetus Roberts, 1992
This study supplemented the way of sex determination of fish based on the regression relationship of some morphological indicators of Mystus mysticetus. A total of 425 fish specimens were collected by trawl nets at Cai Rang - Can Tho and Long Phu - Soc Trang from January to July 2022. After collection, the fish were transferred to the laboratory to determine their total length (TL), standard length (SL), eye diameter (ED), eye distance (DE), body height (BD), head length (HL), and mouth width (MD) before anatomy for sex determination based on gonads. The regression analysis results of TL-SL, TL-ED, TL-DE, TL-BD, TL-HL, and TL-MD showed that SL, DE, and MD could be used to determine the sex of this fish species because SL and DE were dominant in growth in males, and MD was prevalent in females. In addition, SL could be used to determine the sampling time and HL to determine the distribution environment
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF COMPACT METAMATERIAL MIMO ANTENNA FOR WLAN APPLICATIONS
A compact three-port metamaterial multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna using complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) loaded ground have demonstrated in order to miniaturize the size and improve the antenna performance. The antenna is designed on FR4 material and simulated by HFSS software. By loading CSRRs in the ground plane, the size reduction of 77% of the individual patch antenna element is achieved, which appeared to be the major reason for the obtained the compact MIMO antenna. Furthermore, the simulated results show that the proposed MIMO antenna achieves the total gain higher than 5 dB, the isolation less than -11 dB, the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) value lower than 0.015, and the bandwidth of 100 MHz through the whole WLAN band from 2.4 GHz to 2.484 GHz, indicating promises for WLAN applications
Direct Observation of Exceptional Points in Photonic Crystal by Cross-Polarization Imaging in Momentum Space
This study explores exceptional points (EPs) in photonic crystals (PhCs) and
introduces a novel method for their single-shot observation. Exceptional points
are spectral singularities found in non-Hermitian systems, such as leaky PhC
slabs. However, directly observing EPs in PhC systems using regular
reflectivity spectroscopy is a considerable challenge due to interference
between guided resonances and background signals. In this work, we present a
simple, nondestructive technique that employs crossed polarizations to directly
observe EPs in momentum-resolved resonant scattering. This approach effectively
suppresses the background signal, enabling exclusive probing of the guided
resonances where EPs manifest. Our results demonstrate the formation of EPs in
both energy-momentum mapping and isofrequency imaging. All experimental
findings align seamlessly with numerical simulations and analytical models. Our
approach holds great potential as a robust tool for studying non-Hermitian
physics in PhC platform
Smoke-free environment policy in Vietnam: What did people see and how did they react when they visited various public places?
Introduction: Since Vietnam has signed WHO framework on tobacco control (FCTC) in 2003 and has issued tobacco control law in 2013, there has been little research concerning about what impacts smoke-free regulations have had on public compliance. The objective of this study was to assess public exposure to secondhand smoke and reaction toward smoke-free policy regulations in Vietnam and the associated factor. Methods: Using the design of GATS (Global Adult Tobacco Survey), a nationally representative sample of 8,996 adults were approached for data collection. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factor.Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of respondents exposed to secondhand smoke was much higher in bars/café/tea shops (90.07%) and restaurants (81.81%) than in any other public places, universities (36.70%), government buildings (31.12%), public transport (20.04%), healthcare facilities (17.85%) and schools (15.84%). 13.23% of respondents saw smokers violate smoke-free regulations. Among those who saw them violate smoke-free regulations, just one-third cautioned them to stop smoking. Strikingly, a higher rate of cautioning smokers to stop smoking was observed among the older, married, and better educated respondents. Respondents who were married, better educated and in lower economic status were more likely to remind smokers to stop smoking.Conclusions: The study has called for strengthening two of the six MPOWER (Monitor, Protect, Offer, Warn, Enforce and Raise) components of the tobacco free initiative introduced by WHO, Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies and Protecting people from tobacco smoke
Antibiotic use and prescription and its effects on Enterobacteriaceae in the gut in children with mild respiratory infections in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A prospective observational outpatient study.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment guidelines do not recommend antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections (ARI), except for streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis and pneumonia. However, antibiotics are prescribed frequently for children with ARI, often in absence of evidence for bacterial infection. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for mild ARI in paediatric outpatients in relation to available guidelines and detected pathogens, 2) to assess antibiotic use on presentation using questionnaires and detection in urine 3) to assess the carriage rates and proportions of resistant intestinal Enterobacteriaceae before, during and after consultation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled in Children's Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and diagnoses, prescribed therapy and outcome were recorded on first visit and on follow-up after 7 days. Respiratory bacterial and viral pathogens were detected using molecular assays. Antibiotic use before presentation was assessed using questionnaires and urine HPLC. The impact of antibiotic usage on intestinal Enterobacteriaceae was assessed with semi-quantitative culture on agar with and without antibiotics on presentation and after 7 and 28 days. RESULTS: A total of 563 patients were enrolled between February 2009 and February 2010. Antibiotics were prescribed for all except 2 of 563 patients. The majority were 2nd and 3rd generation oral cephalosporins and amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid. Respiratory viruses were detected in respiratory specimens of 72.5% of patients. Antibiotic use was considered inappropriate in 90.1% and 67.5%, based on guidelines and detected pathogens, respectively. On presentation parents reported antibiotic use for 22% of patients, 41% of parents did not know and 37% denied antibiotic use. Among these three groups, six commonly used antibiotics were detected with HPLC in patients' urine in 49%, 40% and 14%, respectively. Temporary selection of 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant intestinal Enterobacteriaceae during antibiotic use was observed, with co-selection of resistance to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. CONCLUSIONS: We report overuse and overprescription of antibiotics for uncomplicated ARI with selection of resistant intestinal Enterobacteriaceae, posing a risk for community transmission and persistence in a setting of a highly granular healthcare system and unrestricted access to antibiotics through private pharmacies. REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number registry under number ISRCTN32862422: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN32862422
Recommendations for Epstein-Barr virus–based screening for nasopharyngeal cancer in high- and intermediate-risk regions
A meeting of experts was held in November 2021 to review and discuss available data on performance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–based approaches to screen for early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and methods for the investigation and management of screen-positive individuals. Serum EBV antibody and plasma EBV DNA testing methods were considered. Both approaches were found to have favorable performance characteristics and to be cost-effective in high-risk populations. In addition to endoscopy, use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate screen-positive individuals was found to increase the sensitivity of NPC detection with minimal impact on cost-effectiveness of the screening program
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